Phillips Racing Partnership will pay $100,000 to supplement Best Minister to the Belmont. The horse was not nominated to the Triple Crown races.

Currently, the Belmont field stands at eight. Among Funny Cide's chief rivals will be Derby runner-up Empire Maker and Atswhatimtalknbout, fourth in the Derby.

Funny Cide jogged once around a muddy Belmont track early Wednesday.

"The track is a mess right now," trainer Barclay Tagg said. "When it's got all that water on it for so long, it's hard on the track. I don't want to take any chances with him."

Atswhatimtalknbout has a "little bruise" on his right front foot and missed a second day of training at Churchill Downs. Trainer Ron Ellis said the colt has been fitted with a plastic bar shoe and was expected back on the track Saturday.

Other 3-year-olds under Belmont consideration are Colita, Dynever, Scrimshaw and Ten Most Wanted.